Charmed to Death

by Rose Pressey

  I smiled at the woman. “Okay, I will do it. Now is that all that we needed to discuss today?”

  I hoped I didn’t sound too short with them or dismissive, but their fangs were making me nervous. I had to get out of there. I truly was going to look into the murders, but my neck was a bit too exposed at the moment.

  She looked at me with narrowed eyes. “I suppose that’s it,” she said in a clipped tone.

  “Do you promise you’ll look into it? You’re not just telling us that so you can get out of here?”

  “Of course not,” I said. Did my voice sound convincing?

  She eyed me up and down. “All right. If you say so. I guess I have to trust you.”

  I pushed my feet. “All right then. Well, I’ll be in touch.”

  “Here, take the file.” She thrust the envelope toward me.

  I took it from her outstretched hand. They probably didn’t believe me, but I just wanted out of there. I made a beeline for that door.

  “Like I said, I’ll be in touch.” I waved over my shoulder and hurried out the door.

  My voice echoed down that long hallway. There was no signs of the weird receptionist. That was fine with me. I’d love to get out of there without having to speak with anyone else.

  I practically ran down that long hallway. Heck, I couldn’t even really see, it was so dark in there. With any luck I wouldn’t run into a wall. I had to wait at the exit door that led into the main lobby, which made me even more nervous. Standing at the door, I was all alone. What if she never opened it? I pushed the button for the receptionist again. It took a second for the thing to light up again. My heart beat a little faster. I watched the door, waiting for it to open. Probably a bit of an overreaction on my part. I seemed to overdramatize on a lot of things. Okay, almost everyone. I needed to work on that.

  When the door opened, I released my pent-up breath. I raced down another hallway until I made it to the front door. Now I had to wait for the receptionist to push in a code to let me out of the building. This place was locked so tight no sunlight would ever come in. And that was the strange thing, they could go out in sunlight. They just chose not to do it. Sure, they couldn’t be out in it for prolonged periods of time, and some of them were worse than others, but it wasn’t like they had to batten down the hatches.

  Finally, I was outside in the sunshine and fresh air. The cheerful yellow glow blanketed the area. The warmth covered my skin. I was free. I set my sights on my car and hurried over to it. I glanced over my shoulder several times to make sure that no one was following me. It looked as if I was alone, although it felt like someone was watching me. I knew it couldn’t be the vampires because they didn’t have windows to look out. Well, there were some windows but they had them closed off.

  Chapter 2

  I got into the car, buckled the seatbelt, and turned the ignition. I was using Nicolas’ car today, since I never really had a need for one. With all of the Underworld activities lately it was becoming increasingly likely that I would have to get my own set of wheels.

  Bruno Mars spilled from the speakers when I turned on the radio. I put the windows down,allowing the wind to blow my hair. I didn’t care if I looked a mess. As I cruised down the road, headed toward the manor, I sang along, trying to let the music erase the thoughts from my mind. It didn’t work. Now the recent murders were on my mind. Could there really be some kind of connection to the fact that they were vampires? Apparently the leader of the National Vampire Association thought so. Did she have a theory on who may have committed these terrible crimes? She had put together that big file on the cases. I’d have to go over that and see if I came to the same conclusion.

  On top of keeping all of the Underworld activities together, I had also agreed to help my mother with her Bewitching Bath and Beauty Shop booth. There was a festival in town for the summer and she wanted to have a booth. She planned to have a table set up to sell her products. My mother always stayed busy, and that hard work was paying off. She’d recently thought of opening a second store in New Orleans. She hadn’t actually come out and said it, but I was almost positive she would ask my best friend Annabelle Preston to run the store for her. That would mean Annabelle would move. It was only an hour’s drive to New Orleans, but still,the thought made my stomach hurt. I hated thinking that Annabelle wouldn’t be right around the corner. Annabelle had been helping my mother for a while now. She was working full-time., and apparently she had a knack for mixing up spells that we’d never realized before.

  Back to what I mentioned earlier. Recently, I’d really thought that my leader of the Underworld status was in jeopardy when my great-great grandfather was reanimated and brought into my life. Yes, I’d been the witch responsive for that little oopsie. Technically, LaVeau Manor would be his again. He’d built the place way back when and that meant that the Book of Mystics would be his as well. Whoever owned LaVeau Manor also owned the Book of Mystics. And whoever had the book was the leader of the Underworld. It was a little confusing, I knew. Since he was back that meant the manor and spell book would be his again.

  “Not so,” he had said with a wave of his bony finger.

  He said that the house was rightfully mine now and that he wanted no claim to it. That meant I got to keep the leader status. I still questioned whether that was a good thing or not. Great-great-grandpa Edwin was a lot older (obviously) and I was almost sure he didn’t want the headache of it anyway. He’d recently taken off to Miami for a little fun in the sun. I expected to see him back at the manor soon, although from the sound of it he might be having a bit too much fun and never come back to Enchantment Pointe.

  I continued singing along with the music and enjoying the breeze that flowed through the car’s open windows. My hair would be a mess once I got out, but I didn’t care. Summer had arrived and I was enjoying the relaxing drive. It was strange though. I felt as if I wasn’t alone in the car, as if someone was watching me.

  When I looked in the rearview mirror I spotted a guy sitting in the backseat. I screamed, almost swerving off the road. Somehow I managed to steer the car back up onto the road without hitting the ditch. Dirt whirled through the air and the tires screeched at my driving maneuvers. Okay, I have to remain calm. A stranger was probably going to kill me on this lonely stretch of highway. Some poor soul would finally discover my body in the ditch after an extensive search.

  “Wow, you’re a really lousy driver,” the man said as he hung on in the backseat.

  Who the hell was this guy and why was he criticizing my driving when he had just scared the hell out of me? How long had he been back there? Why hadn’t I seen him when I got into the car? I supposed I had been so distracted that I hadn’t paid attention. He could’ve been lying down in the backseat. Yes, that had to be it. He’d been hiding from me on purpose. Or had he used some kind of magic? Whatever the case,I had to get him out of there. It was just too creepy to think about. I had to get him out of the car and call for backup. I was going to let this guy have it with a spell.

  If he could tell me why he was here, I might spare him. Oh, who was I kidding? I wasn’t going to spare him. He owed me an answer. If he had bad intentions then he was crazy for thinking that he was going to get away with it.

  I pulled the car over to the side of the road as much as I could. I wanted to be out of the way of any oncoming traffic. Although this was an isolated road and we might not see anyone for quite some time. This weirdo had waited until I was in this isolated place before jumping out at me. My heart rate increased and my hands shook.

  Once on the side of the road, I didn’t even bother turning off the car. If he wanted to carjack me then he could have it. I would have to explain that to Nicolas, but I was almost sure he would understand. I opened the car door and jumped out. I wasn’t quite sure what I would do next because if I ran he would catch up with me. Let’s face it, I was not exactly a fast runner. My short legs didn’t have a big stride. Anyway, I digressed. I could try a spell. That was about the only
thing I had—my magic. So bring it on, buddy. Yes, I’d knock him out with a spell. The wind had picked up some, so I hoped that the breeze wouldn’t mess with the delivery of my magic.

  I stood in front of the car with my hands on my hips, waiting for him to get out so that we could confront each other. He did want to confront me, I assumed. Why else was he hiding in the car? He had a lot of explaining to do. The back car door opened and he stretched out. The man had dark hair, crystal-blue eyes, and a dazzling smile. Yes, he was drop-dead gorgeous. But that was beside the point. He still had a lot of explaining to do. Good looks would get him nowhere with me. Sure, I had been swayed by Nicolas’ and Liam’s handsome faces a tad, but that wasn’t the case anymore.

  The guy moved around the car toward me. With his long legs he closed the distance between us quickly. My heart beat a little faster as I ran through spells in my mind. Which one would I use on him? Should I turn him into a toad? I laughed to myself at the thought. That would be fun. I pictured him with green wart covered skin and hopping down the road. Turning bad guys into any kind of animal was always a pleasure. It was hilarious to see the way that their little faces would take on human features even after they were now animals. Maybe that wasn’t nice, but it was necessary. Hey, don’t be mean and it wouldn’t happen. I’d never left anyone that way for long. Of course, I’d just discovered this ability, so it was still new to me. My mother had been doing it for years. Usually she did it when she wanted me to have a date. I’d caught on to her antics though and put a stop to it.

  I stretched my arms out and put my hands up. “Stop right there, buddy. Don’t come any closer.”

  He stopped in his tracks and held his hands up. “I’m not here to hurt you.”

  I heard what he said, but my adrenaline was so high I couldn’t think of anything but fighting my way out of this. I didn’t trust him for a minute. Did he really think I was supposed to believe him?

  “Is it the car you want?” I asked. I probably could cast a spell to stop him from taking that as well. “I’m getting ready to lay a smackdown on you with my magic, so you’d better start explaining and do it quick.”

  “First off, let me say that you’re much prettier than I imagined.” He flashed that gorgeous smile again.

  “Oh, so you’re a creepy stalker? Listen, buddy, I have a fiancé.”

  He laughed. Even his laughter was gorgeous.

  “You find that funny, do you? Will you find it funny when you’re on the ground writhing in pain? What’s your name?” I demanded.

  “My name is Thomas Cameron.” He stepped forward, stretching his hand out toward me.

  Maybe my next move was an overreaction, but I had warned him. If he didn’t heed my advice then it wasn’t my fault. Raising my arms and reciting the spell words, I blasted a spell his way. The next thing I knew, he was lying flat out right there on the pavement. I smiled at my quick thinking. Energy hummed around us. That was the leftover residue from my magic. It would fade after a bit.

  I had thought of turning him into an animal, but I figured that wasn’t necessary just yet. The magic spell would leave him unable to scramble up for at least thirty seconds. That would give me just enough time to get back to the car and take off. I’d leave his butt right there. He had fallen to the road like a sack of potatoes. He was lucky I didn’t give him a kick that would send him rolling into the ditch. I was too nice for that. Though this creep probably deserved it.

  I raced around him and jumped back in the car. Shoving the gear into drive, I took off without even as much as a goodbye smirk. The tires squealed as I pulled away, leaving him in my dust. When I glanced in the review mirror, he was still on the side of the road. I laughed as I drove along. It served him right for trying to pull that stuff on me.

  Thomas Cameron didn’t know who he was messing with, did he? The guy had been dumb enough to give me his name. Was that his real name? I wished I’d gotten the spellcasting on video. He made a sad display on the side of the road. Annabelle would’ve gotten a good laugh out of seeing me take that guy down. My mother would have enjoyed it too. She would be proud of my magic. Long gone were the days when she’d pretend she didn’t know me. I would just have to rely on retelling the story, and I would probably do that too many times. If I had cell phone coverage out here on this lonely road I could give them a call right now and tell them while it was all fresh in my mind. I had to say I was on a bit of an adrenaline rush.

  Thank goodness I arrived back at LaVeau Manor. It was a secluded place and off the road, with a long gravel driveway and gates that wouldn’t quite stay closed. I needed to have them fixed. The house was three stories with a huge wraparound porch on the front and trees all around the outlying area. Behind the house not far away was a small river. It curved its way along the edges of Enchantment Pointe. Some said the water helped the magical powers and that was why Enchantment Pointe was so good for witchcraft. Before the river was an old family cemetery. It was surrounded by a small black fence and tall oaks trees draped in Spanish moss. Yes, I saw ghosts around here often, and in the house for that matter. I tried to just ignore them, and hoped that they would ignore me. Currently that plan was working out well. Though it hadn’t worked so well in the past.

  I pulled the car around the circle driveway and up to the front, turned off the ignition, and walked toward the door. Yes, I had a little bit of smugness still from what I’d done to that poor sap, a spring in my step. With the pebbles crunching under my feet, I crossed the drive and up the steps. I had really showed him. Wait until Nicolas found out. He would be angry too. If he came back soon he’d probably go look for the guy and let him have it. Lucky for Thomas Cameron, or whatever his name was, Nicolas was with Liam right now. However, they were due back soon. I’d have to decide if I was actually going to tell Nicolas. I didn’t like keeping things from him.

  Moving through the manor, I released a deep breath. Thank goodness I was back in my safe haven. The manor was just as grand on the inside as the outside. Wood trim and a huge winding staircase greeted guests when they stepped into the foyer. There were a couple of parlors, a library, dining room, and then the massive kitchen at the back of the house. And that was all just on the first floor.

  I made my way through the house. The polished old floors squeaked under my feet with each step. Pluto hopped down from his spot on the sofa and followed along behind me, meowing. I’d inherited the black cat with the manor. A witch needed a black cat, right? The only thing missing for me was the broom. I’d just have to skip that means of transportation. I hated flying anyway.

  “Okay, I get it. The loud protests are demands for food. Hold on.” I stepped into the kitchen, grabbed the bag of cat food and filled his dish.

  Pluto had eaten breakfast, but it was his lunchtime, and he was going to let me know about it. He was almost as impatient as my mother. His favorite food was tuna delight. He wouldn’t eat anything else. If they ever stopped making it I’d be in big trouble. I’d have to find a magic spell that allowed me to make the cat food on my own.

  “I’m only five minutes late,” I said as I poured more water into the other dish.

  Stopping his chowdown for a moment, he glared at me as if to say, That’s no excuse.

  Tonight I planned on making a special dinner. That was something I normally wouldn’t have volunteered to do. In the past my cooking had been inedible, but now with my new special magic skills my cooking had improved greatly. It would probably be a romantic dinner for two, just Nicolas and me, although I’d ask Liam if he wanted to stay too. He’d probably want to get back to New Orleans as soon as possible. Plus, Nicolas would give him that look that let him know he wanted him to get lost. Nicolas loved Liam, and Liam loved Nicolas, they just had a funny way of showing it.

  I’d just started to gather my ingredients to prepare the dinner of honey glazed rum chicken when the doorbell rang. I wasn’t expecting anyone, so it was only natural that my nerves set in. It was never a good thing when the doorbell rang ar
ound LaVeau Manor.

  Chapter 3

  Before I made it to the door the bell rang again. This person was impatient. I almost thought of calling out for the person to wait, but I didn’t necessarily want the visitor to know I was home. Bad witches had been known to show up uninvited. I prepared myself with a smile. I had to be friendly. This could be a customer and I didn’t want them to think that I was rude.

  When I reached the parlor window, I decided to take a peek outside to see if I could spot the person before I actually answered the door. I could never be too safe, so I pulled the curtain back just a smidgen. That was when I saw him—Thomas Cameron. I couldn’t believe it. I almost fell on the floor. How had he gotten here? Furthermore, what was I going to do to get rid of him? How did he know where I lived? The guy I had knocked on his butt down the road had somehow ended up now on my front porch.

  “No way are you going to get away with this, buddy. What a creep,” I said as I stared out the window.

  I would let him have it again. Even harder this time. Apparently he hadn’t learned his lesson the first time. I would not be his victim.

  Just then, he turned to look to the left and our eyes met. Instantly he figured out what I had planned for him. He stepped to the right, trying to get out of the way of my magic. It was too late. My spell would find him no matter where he went. He couldn’t get away, or could he? Maybe he had used magic in order to get to the manor so quickly. Did he have magic that I didn’t know about?